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Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp scrip, 100 kronen note

Object | Accession Number: 1990.53.10

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 100 [ein hundert] kronen, of the type distributed in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp beginning in May 1943. The ghetto currency was printed by the National Bank in 7 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Inmates were not allowed to have currency, which was confiscated. The SS ordered the Jewish Council to design scrip for use only in the camp. It was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy. There was little to obtain with the scrip. Located thirty miles northwest of Prague in German occupied Czechoslovakia, the camp was established by the Germans in November 24, 1941, and ceased operation in early May 1945. In 3.5 years, approximately 140,000 Jewish persons were transferred to Terezin; nearly 90,000 were then deported, likely to their death, further east. About 33,000 died in Theresienstadt.

Theresienstadt scrip printed on rectangular, watermarked, offwhite paper in black, orange, and red-brown ink. The face has a vignette of Moses, a bearded man with a wrinkled brow, holding 2 stone tablets with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew. To the right is the denomination 100 and German text. The background rectangle has an abstract, repeating pattern. On the right is a wide offwhite border with 100 in the bottom corner below a Star of David. The reverse has a background rectangle with a zigzig pattern with an underprint flourish, overprinted with German text, an engraved signature, and a scrollwork line. The denomination 100 is in the upper right corner. On the left is a wide offwhite border with 100 in the bottom corner below a Star of David in a lined circle. The serial number in red ink is in the upper left corner. The series letter in red ink is in the lower right. Scrip appears unused.

Franz Peter Kien was born January 1, 1919, in Varnsdorf, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic), to Leonard and Olga Frankl Kien. His father Leonard was born in 1886, in Varnsdorf, and was a member of the German-speaking Jewish population in the, the Sudetenalnd, which bordered Germany. Leonard was a textile manufacturer with his own factory. Peter’s mother Olga was born in 1898, in Bzenec, Austro-Hungary (Czech Republic), to Jewish parents. After 1929, the Kien family moved to Brno. Peter enrolled at the German Gymnasium, where he excelled at drawing, painting, and writing. In 1936, he graduated and moved to Prague to study at the Academy of Fine Arts. He also attended the Officina Pragensis, a private graphic design school run by a well-known Jewish artist, Hugo Steiner-Prag.

On September 29, 1938, Germany annexed the Sudetenland. On March 15, 1939, Germany invaded Prague and annexed the Bohemia and Moravia provinces of Czechoslovakia, ruled by a Reich Protector. Jews were banned from participation in government, businesses, and organization, including schools. Peter had to leave the Academy, but continued to study at the Officina Pragensis. He also taught at Vinohrady Synagogue. In September 1940, Peter married Ilse Stranska, who was born on May 9, 1915, in Pilsen, to Jewish parents.

In late September 1941, Heydrich, the SS head of RSHA, Reich Main Security Office, became Reich Protector. Soon there were regular deportations of Jews to concentration camps. At the end of November, Theresienstadt concentration and transit camp near Prague got its first shipment of Jewish prisoners. On December 14, Peter was transported to Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp. He was assigned to the technical department where he worked as a draftsman and designer alongside other artists, including Bedrich Fritta, Leo Haas, and Jiri Lauscher. On July 16, 1942, Peter’s wife Ilse arrived in the camp. On January 30, 1943, Peter’s parents Leonard and Olga were transported from Bzenec to Terezin. Peter was assigned major projects by the Jewish Council that administered the camp for the Germans, such as the scrip receipts used in place of money in the camp. He secretly documented the inmate’s daily life, creating portraits and other drawings, and wrote plays, poems, and an operatic libretto. On October 16, 1944, Peter’s wife Ilse and his parents Leonard and Olga were selected for deportation. Peter volunteered to go with them. Before leaving, Peter and his family were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in German occupied Poland. Peter survived the selection process, soon fell ill, likely with typhus and died, age 25, in late October 1944. His wife and parents were killed at Auschwitz. Some of the work that Peter left with other prisoners or hid at Theresienstadt survived and has been exhibited worldwide.

Issue of the pro-Nazi magazine, Kladderadatsch, an illustrated satirical magazine issued in Berlin, Germany, from 1848-1944. The magazine was a popular success with the middle class from the start, and like its audience, grew more conservative over the years. Under editor Paul Warncke (1909-1933), it was strongly nationalistic, and praised Hitler for his patriotism after the 1923 Munich Putsch. It grew increasingly antisemitic, and became an energetic supporter of Hitler and the Nazi Party. This print is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic visual materials.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 1 (eine) krone, of the type issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in German occupied Czecjoslovakia from September 1944-May 1945. The ghetto currency was distributed from May 1943, and Rene saved one of each denomination: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. The scrip was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy in the camp. There was nothing to obtain with the scrip. Soon after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Rene's parents Hans and Hanna fled Berlin with their infant son to Hilversum, Netherlands. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In January 1942, Rene and his parents were interned in Westerbork transit camp. In September 1944, they were deported to Theresienstadt. Soon after their arrival, his father was sent to Auschwitz and murdered. Theresienstadt was liberated by Soviet troops on May 9, 1945. Rene and his mother were repatriated to the Netherlands. They left for America in 1948.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 20 [zwanzig] kronen, of the type distributed in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp beginning in May 1943. The ghetto currency was printed by the National Bank in 7 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Inmates were not allowed to have currency, which was confiscated. The SS ordered the Jewish Council to design scrip for use only in the camp. It was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy. There was little to obtain with the scrip. Located thirty miles northwest of Prague in German occupied Czechoslovakia, the camp was established by the Germans in November 24, 1941, and ceased operation in early May 1945. In 3.5 years, approximately 140,000 Jewish persons were transferred to Terezin; nearly 90,000 were then deported, likely to their death, further east. About 33,000 died in Theresienstadt.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 1 (eine) krone, of the type issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in German occupied Czecjoslovakia from September 1944-May 1945. The ghetto currency was distributed from May 1943, and Rene saved one of each denomination: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. The scrip was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy in the camp. There was nothing to obtain with the scrip. Soon after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Rene's parents Hans and Hanna fled Berlin with their infant son to Hilversum, Netherlands. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In January 1942, Rene and his parents were interned in Westerbork transit camp. In September 1944, they were deported to Theresienstadt. Soon after their arrival, his father was sent to Auschwitz and murdered. Theresienstadt was liberated by Soviet troops on May 9, 1945. Rene and his mother were repatriated to the Netherlands. They left for America in 1948.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 20 [zwanzig] kronen of the type issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in German occupied Czecjoslovakia from September 1944-May 1945. The ghetto currency was distributed from May 1943, and Rene saved one of each denomination: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. The scrip was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy in the camp. There was nothing to obtain with the scrip. Soon after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Rene's parents Hans and Hanna fled Berlin with their infant son to Hilversum, Netherlands. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In January 1942, Rene and his parents were interned in Westerbork transit camp. In September 1944, they were deported to Theresienstadt. Soon after their arrival, his father was sent to Auschwitz and murdered. Theresienstadt was liberated by Soviet troops on May 9, 1945. Rene and his mother were repatriated to the Netherlands. They left for America in 1948.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 50 [funfzig] kronen, of the type issued in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp in German occupied Czecjoslovakia from September 1944-May 1945. The ghetto currency was distributed from May 1943, and Rene saved one of each denomination: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. The scrip was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy in the camp. There was nothing to obtain with the scrip. Soon after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Rene's parents Hans and Hanna fled Berlin with their infant son to Hilversum, Netherlands. In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands. In January 1942, Rene and his parents were interned in Westerbork transit camp. In September 1944, they were deported to Theresienstadt. Soon after their arrival, his father was sent to Auschwitz and murdered. Theresienstadt was liberated by Soviet troops on May 9, 1945. Rene and his mother were repatriated to the Netherlands. They left for America in 1948.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 10 [zehn] kronen, of the type distributed in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp beginning in May 1943. The ghetto currency was printed by the National Bank in 7 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Inmates were not allowed to have currency, which was confiscated. The SS ordered the Jewish Council to design scrip for use only in the camp. It was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy. There was little to obtain with the scrip. Located thirty miles northwest of Prague in German occupied Czechoslovakia, the camp was established by the Germans in November 24, 1941, and ceased operation in early May 1945. In 3.5 years, approximately 140,000 Jewish persons were transferred to Terezin; nearly 90,000 were then deported, likely to their death, further east. About 33,000 died in Theresienstadt.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 2 [zwei] kronen, of the type distributed in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp beginning in May 1943. The ghetto currency was printed by the National Bank in 7 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Inmates were not allowed to have currency, which was confiscated. The SS ordered the Jewish Council to design scrip for use only in the camp. It was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy. There was little to obtain with the scrip. Located thirty miles northwest of Prague in German occupied Czechoslovakia, the camp was established by the Germans in November 24, 1941, and ceased operation in early May 1945. In 3.5 years, approximately 140,000 Jewish persons were transferred to Terezin; nearly 90,000 were then deported, likely to their death, further east. About 33,000 died in Theresienstadt.

Theresienstadt scrip, valued at 5 [funf] kronen, of the type distributed in Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto-labor camp beginning in May 1943. The ghetto currency was printed by the National Bank in 7 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Inmates were not allowed to have currency, which was confiscated. The SS ordered the Jewish Council to design scrip for use only in the camp. It was issued to create a false appearance of normalcy. There was little to obtain with the scrip. Located thirty miles northwest of Prague in German occupied Czechoslovakia, the camp was established by the Germans in November 24, 1941, and ceased operation in early May 1945. In 3.5 years, approximately 140,000 Jewish persons were transferred to Terezin; nearly 90,000 were then deported, likely to their death, further east. About 33,000 died in Theresienstadt.

Learn about over 1,000 camps and ghettos in Volume I and II of this encyclopedia, which are available as a free PDF download. This reference provides text, photographs, charts, maps, and extensive indexes.